How To Set Yourself Up For Success in 2018
How To Attract Success in 2018
It’s the season of resolutions and making choices to better ourselves for the year ahead. To help get you in the spirit we asked all the lawyers in our office for their top tip for success in 2018. Read on to find out what we will be doing to ensure 2018 is a happy, healthy and successful year. Remember, it’s never too late or too early to start preparing for your future.
Create or Update Your Will
If you have recently been divorced, are considering a divorce or have experience any major life transitions you need to revisit your Will. Should you not prepare a new Will, your previous Will will remain in force in the event of your death. If your spouse is named in your Will as the beneficiary of your estate, they will continue as such. If you do not have a Will your spouse will receive the majority of your estate should you die. Should you need to consult with a lawyer with respect to the preparation of a new Will, or to make changes to an existing Will, Emily Varga or our office will be very happy to assist you.
Retirement Savings / Meet with a Financial Planner
If you haven’t already started saving for retirement, it isn’t too late – but you need to start now. One of the best pieces of advice financial planners give is to not wait until you have money to start planning. It’s a good idea to set up an appointment with a financial planner to give you an idea of where you are and how to get to where you want to be. Go into the initial meeting with your short and long-term goals in mind. Some key things to consider are: marriage, mortgage, kids, continuing education, among other potential assets. Many people find it incredibly empowering to take control of their finances and being managing their money.
Create a Monthly Budget
To set yourself up for success, it’s a good idea to understand your money in, money out situation. To start, we recommend writing down every.single.thing you spend money on for two weeks. This should give you an estimate of how much you need for groceries, living expenses, house hold items, entertainment, child care, etc. Then, create a list of all your monthly expenses such as car payments, mortgage payments etc. This will give you a good idea of exactly how much money is leaving your account per week. Next, write down all your sources of income and how much you are bringing in each month. Compare these lists and make changes as necessary.
Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals
It can be easy to get swept up in the excitement of goal setting. And while we agree you should always aim big, it’s important to make sure your goals are achievable. SMART goals are: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-bound. SMART goals bring structure to your objectives and allow you to bring your goals closer to reality.
Create a Positive Home-Life Environment
It’s nearly impossible to achieve your goals if you are draining your energy on toxic relationships. Now is a good time to evaluate the people you spend time the majority of your time with and make changes towards a more positive life. It is not selfish to sever ties with people who no longer bring you happiness.
If you are considering separation or divorce, connect with us to set up an initial consultation.
Disclaimer: The content provided in the blog posts of Jones Divorce & Family Law is general information and should not be considered legal advice. Please contact a lawyer for legal advice tailored to your specific situation. All articles are current as of their original publication date.
